Authorities ID victims in shootingDARDANELLE -- The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory authorities and special agents of the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) identified two gunshot victims discovered Thursday outside of a residence at 12084 Gum Springs Road south west of Dardanelle. According to an ASP release, Rita Miller, 61, and Ciera Miller, 17, were allegedly shot and killed by James Arthur Bowden, 42, of Dardanelle. Both women were Yell Coun...

RPD seeks help locating suspectSheila Oxendine couldn't keep from crying as police canvassed the area outside her apartment at Brentwood Village on Friday after gunshots rang out in the early afternoon. "When I heard the shots fired, it scared me," she said, still visibly shaken from the incident. "I stuck my head out of my apartment, and I saw people running. I was too scared to call the police. I don't want to get shot at. They all act crazy here, so I went and hid in the...

Mainhart a longtime vet of law enforcementDARDANELLE -- Lt. Kevin Mainhart was a Russellville High School graduate who had strong ties to law enforcement and life in the Arkansas River Valley. Mainhart, 46, was fatally wounded Thursday morning during a traffic stop southwest of Dardanelle along State Highway 27 near the junction of Slo Fork Road. He served five years with the Yell County Sheriff's Office (YCSO). Two citizens were also killed outside a residence on Gum Springs Road. Th...

3 dead in Yell County shootingsDARDANELLE -- James A. Bowden, 42, was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged in the deaths of three people, including a Yell County Sheriff's deputy. Lt. Kevin Mainhart was en route to a disturbance call at 10024 Gum Springs Road in Dardanelle when he pulled over a vehicle that he believed was associated with the disturbance call at approximately 7:18 a.m. Thursday, police say. Police said Bowden shot and killed Mainhart, 46, during the traf...

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BY SAM HOISINGTONhoisington@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

10 arrested on drug charges in Yell CountyDANVILLE -- Yell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey announced Monday that sheriff's deputies made multiple drug arrests during the past two months as a part of the agency's ongoing effort to combat drug-related crime in the county. Brandon Logan Gra, 23, of Havana was taken into custody March 13 on outstanding unrelated warrants and was alleged to have been discovered to be in possession of a schedule II controlled substance without a prescription. De...

UPDATE: Suspect named in deaths of Yell County Deputy and two othersDARDANELLE — The latest on Thursday morning's shooting in Yell County. 4 p.m. At a press conference at approximately 3:45 p.m. today, authorities identified James Bowden, 42, as the suspect in the deaths of three people. Police said Bowden killed Yell County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Mainhart during a traffic stop shortly after 7 a.m. today. Mainhart was on his way to a call about a disturbance, police said. When officers arrived at the home wher...

ASP respond to shooting in Yell CountyArkansas State Police responded alongside the Yell County Sheriff's Department to a shooting early this morning according to Arkansas State Police Public Information Officer Liz Chapman. Chapman said she could not confirm reports a deputy has been shot but said there will be more information available within the hour.

Police say man choked woman in front of childJoshua F. Deal, 30, was arrested on Sunday after a woman alleged he choked her and threatened to cut her throat in front of her 4-year-old son, according to a police report. The victim told police Deal grabbed her, threw her into a door frame, threw her to the floor and choked her until she couldn't breathe. While choking her, the victim alleged he told her, "I'm going to kill you. You're going to die today," and that he should get his knife t...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Former deputy enters plea, gets 6 years probationA Knoxville man and former deputy with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual assault Thursday and was sentenced to six years of probation. Circuit court documents stated Robert G. Retford, 55, of Knoxville pleaded guilty to sexual assault in the third degree, which is a Class C felony. He must also register as a sex offender, was ordered to have no contact with the victim, alcohol or any controlled su...

Routine visit leads to arrestCLARKSVILLE -- Calvin Green was arrested last Wednesday after the Clarksville Police Department and Arkansas Probation and Parole found methamphetamine during a routine home visit, which led to the discovery of several more illicit items. According to a release by the Clarksville Police Department, the methamphetamine was observed in plain view, and Green and his wife, Liza Holt were detained and a search while a search was performed on the ho...

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Courier Staff ReportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

'16 murder trial set for ThursdayDANVILLE -- Two men, one from Russellville and the other from Havana, are scheduled to appear in Yell County Circuit Court on Thursday and Friday for the murder of a Havana man in March 2016. The 15th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney's office confirmed last week that Robert Michael McCowan, 19, of Russellville and Sean Mathis Tyra, 23, of Havana were charged with the first-degree murder of Randy Jackson of Havana on March 28, 2016. Anoth...

Another arrest made in Dollar General robberyStacy Q. Cox, 21, was arrested in connection with a Dollar General Store robbery on Sept. 27, 2016, on Highway 124. Cox is the third suspect to be arrested in relation to the robbery. According to a police report, three people robbed the store at approximately 9:59 p.m. as an employee was attempting to lock the door. According to a victim, two men arrived, pointed a gun at her and demanded money. She and another employee were forced to empty t...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Police beatn Russellville Police Department (RPD) Officer Chris Isbell arrested a 26-year-old man and cited him DWI (second offense) and left of center after a traffic stop on the Interstate 40 eastbound ramp. According to a police report, a white truck did not completely stop at West Birch Street and North Arkansas Avenue. Following field sobriety tests at the scene, the suspect was transported to RPD where a blood alcohol content (BAC) test resulted in...

Authorities arrest man after alleged theft from storeKevin J. Williams, 30, was arrested by Russellville Police after allegedly shoplifting from a hardware store in town. According to the police report, Williams attacked employees after being confronted over the robbery. Williams allegedly hid a bottle of pest control solution and water pump in his pants. When employees blocked the door and confronted him, Williams allegedly struck an employee in the face and chest and elbowed a woman in the nos...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Circuit judge 'admonished' by the JDDCLITTLE ROCK -- The Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission (JDDC) issued a letter of admonishment to Circuit Judge William "Bill" Pearson on Tuesday and determined the sentence he received after he pleaded guilty to DWI and reckless driving on April 17 was "adequate discipline" for his conduct. David Sachar, JDDC executive director, said Tuesday that Pearson received an admonishment for violating ethical canons after he broke state law. ...

Officers earn Meritorious Service AwardsRussellville Police Department corporals Joseph Paterak, Kevin Hobby and Terry Cobb were recently presented the Meritorious Service Award by Chief Jeff Humphrey. Paterak is a field training officer. Hobby is school resource officer at Russellville Junior High School (RJHS), and Cobb is the school resource officer at Russellville High School (RHS). The chief explained in letters presented to the three that the Meritorious Service Award is given...